Flying Solo

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] lot of confusion surrounds the issue of women choosing to travel alone, also known as ‘solo female travelling.’  Opinions were polarised after the death of Sarai Sierra a few years ago, an American tourist in Istanbul. Anyone who reads up on the facts will understand that cries of ‘why did her husband let her travel alone to the Middle-East?’ are victim-blaming, sexist and frankly insulting. Many women travel to many locations for many reasons, and that’s not going to change. Fear-mongering will make people think that women’s mobility should be reduced.

So here’s a positive article on solo female travelling!  I’ve compiled a list of handy tips from my solo travelling experience for girls sitting on the fence, or to plant that first seed of curiosity. A lot of these tips are common sense and obviously not gender specific. One thing to bear in mind is that these tips should only broadly be applied to Europe as I have only travelled alone there.

1. Traveling alone doesn’t necessarily mean travelling alone
   Solo travelling has lost much of the stigma of times gone by, but not all of it. When I talk about trips that I’ve taken alone, I often hear the question, (with obligatory smirk) ‘Weren’t you lonely?’ The answer is no! Of course, I would suggest that people considering solo travel know how to spend time in their own company. But choosing to stay in a hostel, on the contrary, often means you have too many people to hang out with. Making an informed hostel choice will guarantee you the presence of like-minded people. There is also couchsurfing (www.coushsurfing.com), which may seem daunting but can definitely be done alone and is a great way to meet locals and save on accommodation costs.
2. Safety is key
   Not everything you can do in the UK translates well in another country. Unfortunately, it is still the case that in other countries a woman travelling on her own attracts attention. Be prepared and careful, but not chained to your room for days. My main tips are: make sure you have a charged phone at all times, with credit; always carry some spare cash, hide some in a shoe etc; find the tourist information on arrival and get a map; locate an internet cafe, somewhere with long hours that you can make a phone call from; avoid wandering around on your own late at night. You want to be self-reliant and prepared for everything.
3. Do like the locals do
   Research your location before you go. Talk to people who have been there before and find out everything about the culture. This advice also means try and copy the same ‘skin-to-clothes’ ratio of local women, which can be frustrating as it is a natural part of being British to celebrate the sun by stripping off! Lastly, learn a bit of the lingo. Some of the worst travel advice ever is ‘don’t bother learning another language, everyone speaks English.’ Wrong. Being able to communicate with locals, even à la pigeon, will not only do a lot in your favour, but it is essential for your safety.

 You want to be self-reliant and prepared for everything

4. Don’t be scared to say no
   By all means, talk to men as there’s no point viewing every man who tries to talk to you as a threat; some of the most helpful advice I’ve had was from local men. However, unwanted attention is an issue. Broadly speaking, you won’t get much more unwanted attention in Northern Europe than you would in Britain. Big cities in France and Belgium can be an exception to this rule. It can be really unsettling to get the ‘long stare’ when walking down the street and for strangers to offer you a coffee left, right and centre. Don’t be scared to be rude. We are often too polite in situations like these! If you feel uncomfortable, say no, walk away into a cafe or a shop. I’ve also found dark sunglasses to be a good firewall.

Some of the worst travel advice ever is ‘don’t bother learning another language, everyone speaks English.’ Wrong

5. Take a bag with an over-the-body strap or no bag
   I was advised not to take a bag out with me in southern Italy, so I didn’t most of the time. I did use a bag with an over-the-body strap when I needed to. As a rule, I wouldn’t take a shoulder bag with you; they’re too easy to snatch.

6. Have confidence in your ability to travel alone
   You are your own boss when you travel alone. It is a really liberating experience. When you have to rely on yourself, it boosts your confidence and you learn not to be hesitant, make friends with strangers and go with the flow. Self-confidence is crucial. Remember you can’t plan or anticipate everything; spontaneity is the best part of solo travelling. Get out there girls!